tion of a similar plan, and had just reached his side
when a violent explosion occurred below us, accompanied by a sound of
splitting and rending of timber, and a heavy crash.

"To the landing! to the landing, every man of you!" shouted the count.
"They have blown down the door, and nothing can now prevent their
entering the house. But keep cool and steady, my men, and we may yet
successfully defend the staircase. Ah! I was just about to seek you!"
he exclaimed, as his eye fell upon me. "You must fly at once; do not
delay another instant, I beg of you. You will find Francesca in the
music saloon, she will be your guide to the grotto; and as soon as you
have reached it, mount and ride for your lives. Take care of her,
Ralph, as you would that your own sister should be cared for; and may
God be your shield and defence in every danger! Now go; there is no
time for further parley; but you know all that I would have you do, and
you know where to seek for the friends with whom I wish you to place
Francesca. God bless you, my dear boy, and farewell until we meet
again; I have already said farewell to my daughter."

He wrung my hand convulsively, and releasing it, fairly pushed me away
from him along the corridor which led to the music saloon.

As I hurried away a loud shout arose from the hall below, accompanied by
a sound as of axes and bars crashing into the barricade at the foot of
the staircase; then a rattling volley of musketry rang out from the
gallery, followed by loud shrieks and agonised groans, fierce oaths, and
yells of defiance; an answering volley from below, followed by more
shrieks and one or two heavy falls; and as I rapidly increased my
distance from the scene of action the varied sounds merged into a fierce
and whirling din, such as might have arisen had Pandemonium opened its
adamantine gates, and poured out upon the hapless chateau a legion of
destroying fiends. On entering the saloon I found Francesca on her
knees, ready equipped for a journey, and with a small gold crucifix in
her hands, which she had removed from her neck. As I entered the
apartment she rose to her feet, and, hastily replacing the jewel, came
up to me, and, placing her hands in mine, exclaimed with quivering
lips,--

"Oh! Ralph dearest, what is the meaning of all this dreadful strife,
and why have they attacked the chateau?"

"I will tell you as soon as we are out of the reach of immediate
danger," I replied; "at present